Obama Briefed On Secret Service Scandal: Official

WASHINGTON -- A White House official says President Barack Obama has been briefed by the director of the Secret Service on the investigation into the agency's prostitution scandal.

The official said Obama was briefed in person by Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan Friday afternoon in the Oval Office.

The briefing came as a government official told The Associated Press a twelfth Secret Service employee has been implicated. The official says three agents were resigning Friday.

That brings the agency departures to six from the events at a hotel late last week in Colombia before Obama arrived for a summit meeting.

Eleven Secret Service employees had been noted earlier. The twelfth has been placed on administrative leave.

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Comments

[Big John Holmes]

02:07 PM on 04/23/2012

GSA spent spent $330,00 to move a employee from denver to hawaii, worked 10 months and quit, makes me sick our government is so out of control with spending and so much for requesting more black agents to the secret service, looks like its back fired on obama, as well, those big booty columbian girls just too much:) no worries, plenty secret service guys to pass around, his daughter malia had 25 secret service with her and 12 friends in mexico ( a trip we paid for!) us tax payers spending plenty of money keeping them safe...

[6465billy]

11:23 AM on 04/23/2012

The REAL question that should be asked is: What did the President know and when did he know it?

[repugnicansfearme]

08:01 PM on 04/23/2012

No, the REAL question is, have you taken your medication today?

[Carrie-On]

01:06 AM on 04/23/2012

At times like this, I've been concerned that the pay scale in government service is so flat that control and power becomes part of some workers lives. There has to be another way to validate security forces because this incident is very much about the inability to realize that the safety of others, and our POTUS is primary before any other action when on assignment.

For example, about 25 year ago (!!) in a Honolulu restaurant of note we overheard a group of West Point grads talking to what seemed to be a soon to be bride’s mother (who’s daughter was marrying into the Army). One of the officers assured her that if there was another world war they were going "AWOL;" every one of the rest of his friends agreed! We all thought how admirable – after we paid for their educations, these officers now were not taking their training and education seriously at all. What I'm getting at of course is that this behavior should have been known, and watched. Each supervisor is directly responsible, and/or involved!

There are too many honorable people working hard day by day and can be found to permit this nonsense from continuing. All one needs to do is watch the so-called "partying" antics of any group to determine the level of self-esteem and ability to perform purposefully.

[repugnicansfearme]

08:02 PM on 04/23/2012

The secret service agents involved in this stupidity make a damn decent living. Do not kid yourself.

[Carrie-On]

10:23 AM on 04/24/2012

I'm not kidding myself - I was referring to the pay "grouping" - such that it's 'flat' regardless of abilities, tenure, etc. Yes, they make enough money IMO, but we had a SS as a neighbor for years and his elevator certainly did not go far up if you know what I mean!

[Carrie-On]

12:49 AM on 04/23/2012

During a gathering of responsible people the general consensus on this was 1) that this has been going on a long, long time, 2) politics is fueling the story, and 3) interesting that Palin's all over the media about this. One person related the behavior of the SS when President Reagan spoke in Dallas at Baylor - he didn't know where he was, "so the probably didn't notice the actions of his SS."

There primarily males! All groups, countries, religions, associations led primarily by males abuse others and raise havoc at the drop of a hat (sic). Maybe it's time that at least our nation began to evidence a serious change in how women are viewed, and the iron ceiling corrodes.

[grizzy4884]

02:12 PM on 04/22/2012

Interesting how outraged the president has been about all of these recent scandals, but was so complacent about operation fast and furious. kind of suggests he had a hand in fast and furious doesn't it.

[Schalaine]

12:57 PM on 04/22/2012

Your job is to protect my President. Get your freak on, on your own time. Stay vigilant....too much hate to take anything for granted.

[Clay Cullum]

04:22 PM on 04/21/2012

If this scandal gets any worse, the Administration will have to dust off their double-top secret last resort cloak of deflection weapon: George Bush.

[JonBFertippton]

04:11 PM on 04/21/2012

HP headline:  "Secret Service Prostitution Scandal Deepens"

Not much relation of the headline to the story - again.

[Okieborn]

04:06 PM on 04/21/2012

I predict after the smoke clears and the media finds out this was not an isolated incident Mark Sullivan will be forced to retire !

[WonderfulWanda]

03:33 PM on 04/21/2012

Now watch each fired employee make money off of this matter. Being linked to Obama's name is gold.

[PlayTOE]

03:19 PM on 04/21/2012

I think this prostitution incident might have diverted attention .. what did happen at that summit? (besides a hooker party with the security team?)

[721]

03:15 PM on 04/21/2012

If you listen to some republicans you would think Obama caused this problem. This is not a GOP or democratic issue....I long for the days when we didn't have to fill our airwaves with 24/7 coverage of stories that don't warrant more than 1 day coverage. Why not write about "real" stories that involve real people suffering in Africa and other places around the world. It would do us good to see living on the USA is like winning the lottery.

[grizzy4884]

02:15 PM on 04/22/2012

Gee! The democrats never Blame Republicans for anything, Do they?

[Glen V]

02:08 PM on 04/21/2012

Why the fuss. Her name's not Anna Chapman ..........(is tt ?). Puritanism raises its ugly head again.

[Waiting4Something]

05:05 PM on 04/21/2012

Do you really think this is about guys just having a good time with prostitutes (doesn't matter that prostitution is legal there)?

Saigon, height of the Vietnam War. Crawling with prostitutes who were spies for the Viet Cong. "What's your unit, Joe? Want good time?"

Casually mentions 9th Infantry Regiment. As he leaves, "See you in a couple of weeks, baby. Gotta head over to the jungle tomorrow."

Link that information with info from another prostitute/spy with another soldier and you can pinpoint exactly where to set up the ambush to wipe out the 9th Infantry regiment. You think it's never happened?

These guys gave away information about the president's travel. Those girls might not have been spies, but I didn't think a Saigon prostitute would be a spy either.

What if these guys were responsible for securing the area around you to give you the best chance of surviving an attempt on your life? They may have been having some off-duty fun, but they were talking about things that could endanger your life.

Puritanism raising its ugly head?

[vcgh2000]

07:46 AM on 04/22/2012

I think your right there. These agents were entrusted with securing the area where the President would be, and, by extension, the conference itself.
If any information was passed on to any of these "escorts" that would compromise the security of their mission, an impartial investigation would be warrented, not just a bunch of resignations and dismissals..

[Clamdip LobsterClaws]

02:06 PM on 04/21/2012

It is a big deal because even though we don't like our President's policies and we may think that he's a Democrat moonlighting as a Republican, we don't want him put in harms way. Inviting a prostitute to your room where you may have secret details about the President's arrival and itinerary, taking drugs and drinking while on official duty, paying a prostitute with a cash back from the hotel that is paid by the American people is criminal behavior for one and reprehensible for a security agency that is responsible for the safety of an American president. The fact that its been allowed in the past doesn't make it right. The Anmerican people pay this agency to protect our President 24/7. That is their job and duty. End of story!
What if a drug cartel or Al Queda operatives sent a rocket fired missile into the lobby of the hotel while our President was there? Would you want all secret service agents sober and available and All hands on deck? The answer is yes. This is the level of professionalism and soberness required for this job.
If you're not up to par, go home and cut your lawn.

[musicmasterno1]

02:01 PM on 04/21/2012

Just another President shipping American (bleep)jobs overseas. ;-)

[Okieborn]

04:08 PM on 04/21/2012

Wht don't you read and educate yourself before spewing lies that President Obama ships jobs overseas , your in the wrong era, that was George W. Bush !

[musicmasterno1]

04:54 PM on 04/21/2012

I'm am very well educated. The issue is your inability to pick up on a joke.

Hint. Bleep = Blow

[grizzy4884]

02:20 PM on 04/22/2012

Sorry, Presidents of both parties Have been contributing To the job exodus. Not to mention Unions. I have not noticed Industry Flooding back to the U.S. over the last three years.